STOCKHOLM — A guttural roar of “Manchester, Manchester” thundered around Friends Arena at the final whistle.

Purely in soccer terms, Manchester United’s 2-0 victory over Ajax in the Europa League final on Wednesday was a triumph of huge significance.

On a wider level, it was also a moment to cheer for the team’s home city, grieving 1,200 miles away.

Manchester, England, was plunged into tragedy on Monday when 22 people were killed by a bomb attack at an Ariana Grande concert in the city center. United’s players flew to Sweden with heavy hearts, vowing to deliver a display in their biggest match of the season that would serve as a tribute to the victims and their families.

They succeeded, ensuring that their victory, in a largely forgettable match on the field, was one to remember.

“Yesterday morning, we were devastated,” said United midfielder Ander Herrera, dedicating the win to the victims. “But the manager told us the only thing we could do was to win this for them. That’s what we’ve done.

“It’s just a football game, just a trophy, but if we can support them with this just 1 percent, it’s enough for us.”

Paul Pogba scored off a deflected shot in the 18th minute — the French midfielder pointed to the sky during his celebrations — and Henrikh Mkhitaryan added a goal in the 48th by deftly hooking home a close-range effort from a corner.

In tough circumstances, United handled the occasion better than an Ajax team featuring six players who are 21 or younger and playing in the famous Dutch club’s first European final in 21 years.

“I haven’t seen the Ajax that I am used to,” Ajax Coach Peter Bosz said. “They are not used to play a final. It was all new for them.”

For United Coach Jose Mourinho, it was obvious that the victory was a huge weight off his shoulders, because of both the emotions of the last few days and the importance of the match. Mourinho was thrown up in the air by his coaching staff in the post-match celebrations, he rolled around on the ground with his son, and jumped up and down in frenzied fashion just before United captain Wayne Rooney lifted the trophy.

United’s season was always going to be defined by this game. In Mourinho’s first season at Old Trafford, he has guided the team to two trophies — the League Cup in February — and a place in next season’s Champions League, the bonus prize for winning the Europa League.

“Obviously there’s happiness from our achievement,” Mourinho said. “But if we could, we’d change the peoples’ lives for this cup. We wouldn’t think twice. Does this cup make the city of Manchester a little bit happier? Maybe.”

The planned moment of silence before the match, in honor of the victims of the blast, rapidly turned into 60 seconds of applause, during which United’s fans chanted poignantly “Manchester, Manchester” for the first time. The two teams wore black armbands for the match in another mark of respect and both sets of fans came together in a show of unity, mingling happily outside the stadium and in the city center before the match.

Pogba — the world’s most expensive player — stood out, dominating the midfield in the first half. His crucial goal had a huge element of fortune to it, though.

United had a bit of good fortune on its first goal. Marouane Fellaini laid the ball off to Pogba at the edge of the area. Pogba, the world’s most expensive player, allowed it to run across him before sending in a low left-footed shot that struck Davinson Sanchez’s outstretched leg, looped up and spun into the net past goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Mkhitaryan’s goal was much more skillful. A right-wing corner was headed down by Chris Smalling, and Mkhitaryan reacted quickest with a smart finish.

United had little trouble keeping Ajax at bay in the closing stages, and the celebrations were euphoric after the match, with Pogba producing some dance moves in front of United’s jubilant fans.

It was United’s sixth European trophy and the only major piece of silverware missing from its collection.

“It means the last piece in the puzzle,” Coach Jose Mourinho said, “a club with every trophy in the world of football.”

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page B13 of the New York edition with the headline: Title Victory Pays Tribute To Victims. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe